Followers

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

The Almost Big Bang- Why didn't you hear about it?

Remember the huge media storm that was sparked off by the discovery of the alleged Islamist plot to allegedly blow up several airplanes flying from the UK to the US? Or the media frenzy that followed London's 7/7? Why then does the news below of the recovery by police of what is believed to be "the largest haul [of explosives] ever found at a house in [the UK]" merit only a paragraph at the UK's Sunday Times? Why have most not even heard about it? Could it be because this time the plotters were not of middle-eastern descent and had never attended an Al Qaida training camp in Pakistan?

06 October 2006Chemicals Find: Two In CourtTWO Pendle men have appeared before Pennine magistrates accused of having "a master plan" after what is believed to be a record haul of chemicals used in making home-made bombs was found in Colne.Robert Cottage (49), of Talbot Street, Colne, and David Bolus Jackson (62), of Trent Road, Nelson, made separate appearances before the court charged with being in possession of an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose. The offences are under the Explosive Substances Act 1883.Both men were remanded in custody to appear at Burnley Crown Court on October 23rd. Cottage was arrested at his home on Thursday, while retired dentist Jackson was arrested in the Lancaster area on Friday, the same day as he left a dental practice in Grange-over-Sands.The 22 chemical components recovered by police are believed to be the largest haul ever found at a house in this country.Cottage is an ex-BNP member who stood as a candidate in the Pendle Council elections in May.Mrs Christiana Buchanan, who appeared for the prosecution in Jackson's case, alleged the pair had "some kind of masterplan".She said a search of Jackson's home had uncovered rocket launchers, chemicals, BNP literature and a nuclear biological suit.Police raided Cottage's Talbot Street home on Thursday of last week. The house was taped off while forensics officers searched the premises. Neighbours were told to stay in their homes for their own safety. Mr Cottage's car was also taken away for examination.Officers also made a thorough examination of Jackson's Trent Road home and, again, officers were on duty outside the house. Forensics officers examined the property.

An interesting article (Hat Tip: Rosemary Ekosso) by Edward Said on American stereotypying of the Arab world:

"Every empire, including America's, regularly tells itself and the world that it is unlike all other empires, and that it has a mission certainly not to plunder and control but to educate and liberate the peoples and places it rules directly or indirectly. Yet these ideas are not shared by the people who live there, whose views are in many cases directly opposite. Nevertheless, this hasn't prevented the whole apparatus of American information, policy, and decision-making about the Arab/Islamic world from imposing its perspectives not just on Arabs and Muslims but on Americans, whose sources of information about the Arabs and Islam are woefully, indeed tragically, inadequate."